By Dan Peacock and Siles Getz Evaluating the Great Gatsby
1. Through the book, Gatsbys ability to succesfully chase his dreams of wealth and an overaverage living style through any means necessary reflects the ability to persue happyniss, that is crucial in the American Dream. Early in his life, he couldnt even tolerate working as a janitor to pay for college becouse he felt it was disgracefull, and once he became acustom to the lifestyle he experienced under Dan Cody, he made it a goal to make it his own. The American Goal of anyone having the ability to persue happiness has not changed through the years, anthough Gatsbys view of it has.
2. According to Fitzgerald, the East, including the Eggs and New York, resembles a kind of higher status, that accompanies bad relationships and tainted values. The Midwest, however, supposivly was the starting place of many of the characters, including Gatsby. Although the Midwast is thought to have nicer people, those in the East try to avoid it due to their social status and high standards of living in the Eggs.
3. The social Classes of the book seem to be separated by the East and West Eggs. East Egg is composed of those who have good social connections and became rich through through their position, while West Egg is made of the "New Rich", who obtained their money through work or other means. Tom and Daisy Buchanan belong to the East Egg style of social class, while Gatsby, a "New Rich", belongs to the West.
4. Nick's character was made to be the un-bias mediator. Although sometimes the reader can find areas where he judges other or is altered through emotion, he is normally strait minded and observant. "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."(pg 1)This quote from his father in the first chapter is supposed to show this, causing the reader to be able to oppenly judge the characters and happenings without evaluating Nick's point of view.
5. Through the book, Gatsby is obsesses with trying to recreate his romantic past with Daisy. He goes as far as to make delusions of her feallings for Tom, saying that she never loved him. "'Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom,' she admitted in a pitiful voice. 'It wouldn't be true.'"(pg 133). Gatsby never realizes that she couldn't leave her current life and social status for him. In chapter seven, Gatsby and Toms quarrel over Daisy ended in her loosing respect for Gatsby and gaining some admiration for Tom. Even through the accedent, their relationship seamed to grow. It is important to try to move on from the past and let it go. If one obsesses over revisiting the past too much, they can end up like Gatsby, crazed with jelousy.
6. Fitzgerald created Gatsby as someone amazingly addept at making his dreams come true, making him "Great". He originally fell in love with the comfortable lifestyle that he had working with Dan Cody, and recreated it for himself by questionable means. "'I found out what your 'drug-stores' were.' He turned to us and spoke rapidly. 'He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter'"(pg 133). Gatsbys deturmination to get what he desires resembols the American Dream, and his way of achieving it reflects the sometimes shady underside of reaching it.
7. Tom and Daisy encouraged Nick Carraway to pursue a relationship with Jordan Baker. Jordan Baker is a well-known golfer, who finds interest in Nick. He goes along with it but does not expect things to really last. In the end she claims to be engaged to another man, and they break the relationship off.
8. Doctor T. J. Eckleburg eyes’ represent something that will always be present, but forgotten. Its color has faded and some parts may be missing, but the eyes remain. Never quite noticeable, but lying in the back of the mind, like a bad memory that dampens each day. The valley of ashes is a place that is depressing and difficult to visit. Everyone wants to go just to see if it is true, but they don’t care for being there. This is similar to meeting Tom Buchanan’s mistress, Nick is not enthusiastic about meeting her, but at the same time he was curious to see her. The green light is how Daisy can be found so easily and she is so close; but also impossible to reach. Gatsby wishes that he could bridge this gap, despite Tom.
9. The Great Gatsby does not disguise the true apocryphalness of people during the Jazz Age. In that it displays human characteristics thoroughly. The book contains colorful words that run smoothly throughout each chapter.
10. The Jazz Age is one where people are exploring the world. They discover drinking in excess, parties, and smoking. This age is about having a good time and being cool; also material possessions are the key to happiness. People partake to forget their worries and responsibilities in the world. Some may return to the world in the morning, but many would spend years drowning in being carefree and cool. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby tries to be the creator and facilitator of everything exciting, in attempt to have a meaningful life full of friends. In the Jazz Age people did not become friends as much, they used each other to obtain a good time, and this becomes evident as Gatsby continues to throw parties.
Evaluating the Great Gatsby
1. Through the book, Gatsbys ability to succesfully chase his dreams of wealth and an overaverage living style through any means necessary reflects the ability to persue happyniss, that is crucial in the American Dream. Early in his life, he couldnt even tolerate working as a janitor to pay for college becouse he felt it was disgracefull, and once he became acustom to the lifestyle he experienced under Dan Cody, he made it a goal to make it his own. The American Goal of anyone having the ability to persue happiness has not changed through the years, anthough Gatsbys view of it has.
2. According to Fitzgerald, the East, including the Eggs and New York, resembles a kind of higher status, that accompanies bad relationships and tainted values. The Midwest, however, supposivly was the starting place of many of the characters, including Gatsby. Although the Midwast is thought to have nicer people, those in the East try to avoid it due to their social status and high standards of living in the Eggs.
3. The social Classes of the book seem to be separated by the East and West Eggs. East Egg is composed of those who have good social connections and became rich through through their position, while West Egg is made of the "New Rich", who obtained their money through work or other means. Tom and Daisy Buchanan belong to the East Egg style of social class, while Gatsby, a "New Rich", belongs to the West.
4. Nick's character was made to be the un-bias mediator. Although sometimes the reader can find areas where he judges other or is altered through emotion, he is normally strait minded and observant. "Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, just remember that all the people in this world haven't had the advantages that you've had."(pg 1)This quote from his father in the first chapter is supposed to show this, causing the reader to be able to oppenly judge the characters and happenings without evaluating Nick's point of view.
5. Through the book, Gatsby is obsesses with trying to recreate his romantic past with Daisy. He goes as far as to make delusions of her feallings for Tom, saying that she never loved him. "'Even alone I can't say I never loved Tom,' she admitted in a pitiful voice. 'It wouldn't be true.'"(pg 133). Gatsby never realizes that she couldn't leave her current life and social status for him. In chapter seven, Gatsby and Toms quarrel over Daisy ended in her loosing respect for Gatsby and gaining some admiration for Tom. Even through the accedent, their relationship seamed to grow. It is important to try to move on from the past and let it go. If one obsesses over revisiting the past too much, they can end up like Gatsby, crazed with jelousy.
6. Fitzgerald created Gatsby as someone amazingly addept at making his dreams come true, making him "Great". He originally fell in love with the comfortable lifestyle that he had working with Dan Cody, and recreated it for himself by questionable means. "'I found out what your 'drug-stores' were.' He turned to us and spoke rapidly. 'He and this Wolfsheim bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter'"(pg 133). Gatsbys deturmination to get what he desires resembols the American Dream, and his way of achieving it reflects the sometimes shady underside of reaching it.
7. Tom and Daisy encouraged Nick Carraway to pursue a relationship with Jordan Baker. Jordan Baker is a well-known golfer, who finds interest in Nick. He goes along with it but does not expect things to really last. In the end she claims to be engaged to another man, and they break the relationship off.
8. Doctor T. J. Eckleburg eyes’ represent something that will always be present, but forgotten. Its color has faded and some parts may be missing, but the eyes remain. Never quite noticeable, but lying in the back of the mind, like a bad memory that dampens each day. The valley of ashes is a place that is depressing and difficult to visit. Everyone wants to go just to see if it is true, but they don’t care for being there. This is similar to meeting Tom Buchanan’s mistress, Nick is not enthusiastic about meeting her, but at the same time he was curious to see her. The green light is how Daisy can be found so easily and she is so close; but also impossible to reach. Gatsby wishes that he could bridge this gap, despite Tom.
9. The Great Gatsby does not disguise the true apocryphalness of people during the Jazz Age. In that it displays human characteristics thoroughly. The book contains colorful words that run smoothly throughout each chapter.
10. The Jazz Age is one where people are exploring the world. They discover drinking in excess, parties, and smoking. This age is about having a good time and being cool; also material possessions are the key to happiness. People partake to forget their worries and responsibilities in the world. Some may return to the world in the morning, but many would spend years drowning in being carefree and cool. In The Great Gatsby, Gatsby tries to be the creator and facilitator of everything exciting, in attempt to have a meaningful life full of friends. In the Jazz Age people did not become friends as much, they used each other to obtain a good time, and this becomes evident as Gatsby continues to throw parties.
Work Cited:
1."The Great Gatsby." The Great Gatsby. Ed. Kito Pm. 31 Jan. 2009. Web. 18 Mar. 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hezrbqv22Ok&feature=response_watch>.
2. Sukimd. "Doctor T. J. Eckleburg." Doctor T. J. Eckleburg. 21 June 2009. Web. 17 Mar. 2010. <http://sukimd.deviantart.com/art/Doctor-T-J-Eckleburg-126767633>